James C. Preston1

b. 22 November 1831, d. 25 December 1910
FatherThomas M. Preston2,3 b. 14 May 1807, d. 22 Feb 1875
MotherJane Orr4,3 b. 27 May 1812, d. 26 Aug 1837
Birth22 Nov 1831 James C. Preston was born on 22 Nov 1831 in Washington County, Virginia.1,3 
Cens-1850Sep 1850  At the age of 18 James was recorded on the first census to enumerate all members of the household. The head of the family was Thomas Preston [his father]. Also enumerated were Eveline [his stepmother], and 7 other children [siblings and half siblings]. The family resided in Washington County, Virginia, where Thomas was a farmer and owned real estate valued at $8,000.2 
  In the years that followed James taught school and then around 1855 became involved in the mercantile business.3 
Migration1860 In 1860 he migrated west, settling in Texas.3 
Cens-186031 Jul 1860  The 1860 census for Hunt County recorded James in the home of Benjamin and Caroline Martin. James listed his occupation as merchant and his personal worth at $5,000.5 
  He also brought sheep in from Missouri and undertook stock growing until the outbreak of the Civil War.3 
Military30 Apr 1862  James enrolled in the 1st Battalion of the Texas Sharp Shooters (Co. A, Burnet's Battalion) on April 30, 1862 at Greenville in Hunt County. Benjamin Martin was captain of the company. James served as commissary clerk and was promoted to commissary sergeant by Oct. 1863. He served through the close of the war.6  
Marriage1864 He married Mary L. Dougherty in 1864.3 
Migration1868  James and Mary's first two children, sons Charles and William, were born in Texas. But in the spring of 1868 the family joined an emigrant team heading to California. The trip, over deserts and mountains, took several months.3  
  The family settled in the Los Angeles basin at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. They lived briefly in El Monte and San Bernadino. James then entered 160 acres of government land west of Glendora but title to the land was held up in court until 1880.3 
Cens-18805 Jun 1880  There they were enumerated in Azusa township [now the city of Azusa] in June 1880. In addition to James and Mary, and the two boys born in Texas, the household included John (10), Myrtle (8), James (6) and Carrie (2).7 [a son Ralph was born in 1884] 
  Once the title to his land was clear James sold much of it and focused on growing citrus and fruit trees, a crop well adapted to this part of California. 
Cens-190015 Jun 1900  James and Mary's son William married in the early 1890s. He and his wife made their home with James and Mary where William contributed to the family enterprise by working as a tree budder. William's brothers Charles, James and Ralph also worked on the farm.8 
20 Aug 1901  Charles died tragically the following August when he was struck by a train while walking home late at night following a lodge meeting of the A.O.U.W.9 [Ancient Order of United Workmen] 
  James was considered one of Azusa's pioneer citizens. He was a founding member of the Azusa Water Development Company and served as an early trustee of the local public school district.3 
Death25 Dec 1910 James died on 25 Dec 1910 in Los Angeles County, California, at age 79.10 
Burial He was buried at Oakdale Memorial Park in Glendora, Los Angeles County, California.10 

Related Links and Images:

Where was Hunt County located? Who else migrated there from Virginia? View the Texas map to find out (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).

Family

Mary L. Dougherty b. Oct 1842, d. 17 Jul 1932
Children
  • Charles Thomas Preston3 (11 Aug 1865 - 20 Aug 1901)
  • William T. Preston3 (Feb 1867 - )
  • John L. Preston3 (circa 1870 - )
  • Mary Myrtle Preston3 (circa 1872 - )
  • James L. Preston3 (Jun 1874 - )
  • Carrie V. Preston3 (circa 1878 - )
  • Ralph Preston3 (Jun 1884 - )
Last Edited10 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S2123] "Thomas M. Preston Bible", The Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.lib.va.us).
  2. [S367] Thomas Preston household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th district, p. 137 (stamped), dwelling 1002, family 1002, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March 2007, image 139 of 289. Household includes: Thomas Preston, 41, farmer, real estate: $8,000, Eveline, 36; Samuel, 21; James, 18; John 15; Jane, 9; Rebecca, 7; Reuben, 5; Thomas, 4; Sarah J., 2; all b. VA.
  3. [S3046] "Biographies", transcriptions, California Genealogy and History Archives (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/biographies/… : viewed 30 Dec. 2012), "James C. Preston", transcribed by Kathy Sedler from An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California (Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1889), p. 592.
  4. [S702] Moses Orr settlement (recorded 1851), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 12: 191. Record named the 3 children of Jane Preston, deceased sister of Moses Orr.
  5. [S1551] Benjamine Martin household, 1860 U.S. census, Hunt Co., Texas, pop. sched., Beat No. 4, p. 58 (original text), dwelling 384, family 383, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2012. Household includes Benjamin Martin, 37, farmer, owns land worth $12,500, pers. prop. of $1,200, b. KY; Caroline, 39; b. VA; Laurence, 13; Mary, 11; John, 9; Ellen, 5 (all children b. VA); Wily Rodgers, 23, farm laborer, b. VA; James Preston, 25, merchant, owns personal property worth $5,000, b. VA.
  6. [S2729] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : accessed Dec. 2012); James C. Preston, private, Co. A, 1st Battalion Texas Sharp Shooters (Capt. Benjamin D. Martin's Company, Burnet's Battalion).
  7. [S3047] J.C. Preston household, 1880 U.S. cens., Los Angeles Co., California, pop sched., Azusa Township, ED 33, page 3C (p. 377 stamped), dwelling 17, family 18, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2012. Household includes: J.C. Preston, 48, farmer, b. VA/VA/VA; Mary, 37, b. VA/NC/VA; Thomas, 14, son, b. TX; William, 13, son, b. TX; John, 10, son, b. CA; Myrtle, 8, dau, b. CA; James, 6, son, b. CA; Carrie, 2, dau, b. CA.
  8. [S3048] James C. Preston household, 1900 U.S. cens., Los Angeles Co., California, pop. sched., Azusa Township, ED 93, sheet 10A (p. 288 stamped), dwelling 234, family 234, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2012. Household includes: James C. Preston, 68, b. Nov. 1831 VA, farmer, owns farm; Mary L., 57, b. Oct. 1842, VA/NC/VA, mother of 7 children, all are living; Charles T., son, 34, b. Aug. 1865, sgl, b. TX, farm laborer; James L., son, 25, b. June 1874, sgl, b. CA, farm laborer; Ralph B., son, 15, b. June 1884, b. CA, farm laborer; William T., son, 33, b. Feb. 1867, marr 9 yrs, b. TX, tree budder; Mary O., dau-in-law, mother of 2 children, both living, b. TX; Charles, grandson, 7, b. Nov. 1892, b. CA; Carrie L., granddaughter, 8, b. Aug. 1891, b. CA.
  9. [S3049] "Killed On the Santa Fe"", Covina Argus, (Covina, California), 24 Aug. 1901; digital image, NewspaperArchive.
  10. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : viewed Dec. 2012). James C. Preston entry, Oakdale Memorial Park, Glendora, CA (entry includes photo of stone: J.C. Preston 1831-1910).